ABSTRACT
Respiratory emergencies requiring management with chest tubes or thoracoscopy usually involve conditions that interfere with lung expansion by causing either lung collapse or lung compression. Pneumothorax and effusion (pleural or pericardial), or more generally, intrathoracic displacing processes, are the common denominator of these conditions, which may occur in combination (seropneumothorax), have an acute or prolonged onset, and may also interfere with cardiac performance.
